Burdwan blast probe should be handed over to NIA: BJP

Kolkata: Demanding that the West Bengal government hand over the Burdwan blast probe to NIA, BJP National Secretary Siddharth Nath Singh on Monday said that the central government would put pressure on the state in this regard since the case had international ramifications.

"The blast is an act of terror and it has implications on international and national security. The state should hand over the investigations to NIA. The Centre will put pressure on the state to hand over the investigation," Singh told PTI.

He said that it was a matter of national security – an aspect which should not be neglected for narrow political interests of TMC.

Singh also expressed apprehension that state agencies might cover up the blast case and demanded that the investigation should be handled by NIA.

"Why is the Trinamool Congress government not handing over the probe to NIA? The delay is raising serious questions of cover-up. BJP demands that investigation be handled by NIA and no other agency," Singh said.

Alleging that links of a senior police officer in Burdwan with TMC were "very well known", Singh said he had been transferred by the Election Commission just before the 2014 Lok Sabha polls and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had promised to being him back to the same position after the elections, which she did.

"Has the TMC regime used their favorite officer to destroy the evidence and cover the role of a section of TMC leaders in anti-national activities?" Singh asked.

BJP state President Rahul Sinha also said that TMC should not try to politicise the matter.

"The Trinamool should not play petty politics over this issue and try to influence the probe," Sinha observed.

West Bengal Home Secretary Basudeb Banerjee has rejected allegations of the state not cooperating with central agencies.

"I would like to deny this. Senior officials of both sides are in touch. It is a far serious matter between the Centre and the state," he said.

"Certain media reports said that posters relating to al-Qaeda were found. No such poster has been found so far. Investigation is on," he said.

Three persons, including two women, have been arrested in connection with the October 2 blast at Khagragarh in which two suspected militants were killed.